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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §1.21.5.pr-1.21.5.1

Prohibition of Subdelegation and Accompanying Coercion

Passage 233 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This text outlines the principle that delegated jurisdiction cannot be further delegated to another, and the rule that delegating jurisdiction implies delegating the moderate power of coercion (non-pure imperium) necessary for its exercise.

[PAULUS libro octauo decimo ad Plautium. ] §1.21.5.prMandatam sibi iurisdictionem mandare alteri non posse manifestum est.
[PAULUS, On Plautius, Book 18.] It is clear that one cannot delegate to another the jurisdiction delegated to oneself.
§1.21.5.1Mandata iurisdictione priuato etiam imperium quod non est merum uidetur mandari, quia iurisdictio sine modica coercitione nulla est.
By the delegation of jurisdiction, even that power which is not pure is deemed to be delegated to a private person, because jurisdiction without a moderate power of coercion is nothing.

Notes

  1. 1.21.5.prMandatam sibi iurisdictionem — iurisdictionem is the direct object of the following infinitive mandare, modified by the perfect participle mandatam and the dative reflexive pronoun sibi ('jurisdiction delegated to oneself'). The entire accusative and infinitive clause (mandare...non posse) functions as the subject of the impersonal phrase manifestum est.
  2. 1.21.5.1Mandata iurisdictione — An ablative absolute construction consisting of the noun iurisdictio and the perfect participle mandatus in the ablative. It can be interpreted temporally ('when jurisdiction has been delegated') or instrumentally ('by the delegation of jurisdiction'), indicating the condition or means for the main clause's action uidetur mandari.
  3. 1.21.5.1imperium quod non est merum — An expression with a relative clause referring to 'mixed power' (mixtum imperium) as opposed to 'pure power' (merum imperium, which refers to criminal jurisdiction with capital punishment and military command). It denotes the power of moderate coercion (modica coercitio) necessary for the exercise of jurisdiction, such as granting possession of goods.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §1.21.5.pr-1.21.5.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:1.21.5.pr-1.21.5.1

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